On #WhyIStayed and the Violence Against Women Act, 20 years later

Esta Soler helped pass the Violence Against Women Act, 20 years ago this week. Leslie Morgan Steiner had just left an abusive husband at the time, and now tells her story widely. They talk about the hashtags #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft, and share what we can all do to end domestic violence.

Esta Soler and Leslie Morgan Steiner know exactly how to stop a conversation in its tracks. All they have to do is say what they do.

Both Soler and Steiner are activists working to end domestic violence. Soler was instrumental in passing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which celebrates its 20th anniversary on September 13. (Watch her TED Talk: How we turned the tide on domestic violence) Steiner, in her early 20s, married the man she thought was her soulmate. Then, he repeatedly held a loaded gun to her head. (Watch her TED Talk: Why domestic violence victims…